GAME 23

IUP (18-4 | 13-3 PSAC) vs Slippery Rock  (13-11 |  7-9 PSAC)
Wednesday,  February 18, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Indiana, Pa. | Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex

Stream: PSAC Digital Network with Doc Brown and Riley Yonchiuk
Radio: U92 FM with Jack Benedict and Tony Coccagna

THE GAME AT A GLANCE
The IUP men's basketball team remain look to continue their undefeated streak in February against Seton Hill. Tipoff is set for 7:30PM inside of the KCAC.

Most recently, IUP cruised past Slippery Rock with Dallis Dillard's tying his season high performance of 31-points against The Rock. Seton Hill is looking for momentum in the end of the season, dropped their last nine of ten games.

TIP OFF NOTES
>> IUP head coach Joe Lombardi is in his 20th season leading the Crimson Hawks. He ranks among the top five active Division II coaches in wins with 449, including 278 in PSAC play.
>> IUP has won the last nine of ten contests against Seton Hill, holding a record of 3-1 in home games during that span.
>> Dillard's 30-point, 10 rebound, and 11 assist performance against Penn-St. DuBois is IUP's first triple-double since the 2021 season.
>> Dillard has been named a top 50 finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, a recognition given to the top player across small college basketball (DII, DIII, NAIA, USCAA, NCCAA).
>> As a team, IUP presents an efficient offense. The Crimson Hawks rank fourth in team FG% in the PSAC (.482).
>> Christian Moore has been an extremely scoring option for Lombardi on offense. Moore ranks seventh in the PSAC in scoring (18.0) with a phenomenal .487 FG%.
>> IUP radiates a strong defensive presense on the court. As a team, IUP allows the second-least PPG in the PSAC (72.8).
>> Individually, Dillard leads the PSAC in steals (60) while Damir Brooks is ranked seventh in blocked shots (24).
>> Moore has also been producing exceptional numbers on defense, logging the second most steals (30) on IUP.

SETON HILL AT A GLANCE
IUP welcome the Seton Hill Griffins to the KCAC who bear an overall record of 13-11 and a conference record of 7-9. Seton Hill has been stumbling in the later half of the regular season, dropping their last nine-of-ten matchups. Most recently, the Griffins lost to No. 6 nationally ranked Gannon 73-85 at home.

Leading scorer for the Griffins is junior forward Kedrick Curtis. An integral piece of the Griffin's top six offense in the PSAC, Curtis, who has started in all 21 of his designated assignments scores 16.0 PPG, alongside grabbing 7.7 Reb/G and accumulated 85 assists so far this season, which leads Seton Hill.

Five other Griffins in addition to Curtis average 10 or more points-per-game. Seton Hill is tied with California (PA) with the most 10+ PPG scorers in the PSAC.

SERIES HISTORY
IUP has dominated the all-time series against Seton Hill, holding a 22-2 record against the Griffins. The Crimson Hawks defeated Seton Hill 95-84 earlier in the 2025-26 regular season, IUP looks to reignite their win streak against Seton Hill after being stunned in a 72-70 loss at the KCAC in the 2023-24 season.

ONE OF THE BEST
Head coach Joe Lombardi has established himself as one of the most successful coaches in Division II basketball during his 20-year career. Lombardi ranks among the top five active coaches with 449 wins and a .759 winning percentage. His 449 victories are most in program history.

ALL-AROUND ELITE SQUAD
With the return of Dillard combined with the development of the younger players, Lombardi's squad have solidified an elite unit that plays at the elite level on both sides of the ball. Presenting a strong effort on the offensive side of the ball, IUP is ranked fourth in the PSAC in scoring offense (85.4). Putting up an even better effort on defense, IUP is ranked second in the conference in scoring defense (72.1). The Crimson Hawks point margin of +13.3 is second best in the PSAC.

DILLARD DOMINATION
Dallis Dillard has elevated his play on both sides of the court to the elite level for the Crimson Hawks, only getting more hotter as the regular season continues. Dillard leads the PSAC in points-per-game (21.0) and steals (60). Obtaining national attention for absolute domination inside the PSAC, Dillard has been named to the top 25 watch list for the Trevor Hudgins Award, a prestigious award presented annually to a senior who has compiled the best four or five year career in small college basketball. Dillard has also been named as a top 50 finalist for the Bevo Francis Award, another honorary award presented to the top player across small college basketball.

BALL HAWKS
Lombardi's aggressive defensive stratagem has paid off successfully for IUP's defense throughout the year. The Crimson Hawks rank second in turnover margin (+3.23) in the PSAC. Four Crimson Hawks have accumulated 20+ steals.

CONSISTENT THREAT
Senior guard Christian Moore has quietly been one of the most productive scorers in the PSAC, as well as for IUP. He has reached double figures in all but one game this season. Moore's 18.0 PPG is second-best on his team, seventh in the PSAC. Moore has also been a continuous threat on defense, recording 30 steals so far this season, second-most on IUP.